Doubles positioning basics: when (and why) to stack

Most points in recreational doubles are lost not because of a bad shot, but because of bad positioning — partners drifting apart, leaving gaps, or staying back when they should be up. Good positioning is mostly a few simple habits. Once those are in place, you can understand the strategy beginners hear about constantly: stacking.

Move as a unit

The most important idea in doubles is that you and your partner move together, as if connected by a short rope. If one of you goes forward, the other goes forward; if one is pulled back to chase a lob, the other drops back too. The goal is to keep a roughly even line across the court so there is no large gap between you for opponents to exploit. When partners move independently, one of them is almost always out of position.

Get to the kitchen line together

The strongest position in doubles is both players up at the kitchen line. From there you can hit down on balls, take away angles, and pressure your opponents. So the shared objective of most rallies is simple: get both of you to the line and hold it. After a return or a good third-shot drop, advance together. Avoid the common pattern where one player races to the net while the other lingers at the baseline — that staggered, "one up, one back" shape leaves a big diagonal gap and is easy to attack.

Cover the middle

A surprising number of balls go down the middle, both because it is the lowest part of the net and because partners hesitate over who takes it. A good default: the player whose forehand is in the middle usually takes the middle ball, and a quick call of "mine" or "yours" prevents the awkward moment where you both watch it go by. Talk constantly. Communication is positioning.

What "stacking" actually is

Stacking is a positioning strategy, not a special rule. Normally, partners switch sides based on the score and serving order. Stacking is when a team deliberately lines up so that a particular player always ends up on a particular side — for example, to keep both players' forehands in the middle, or to keep a stronger player on the side they prefer. To do it, players start on the same side and then move into their preferred positions as the serve is struck. It is completely legal; you are just choosing where to stand within the rules.

Should beginners stack?

Usually not yet. Stacking adds coordination and a real risk of confusion about who serves and where everyone stands, which can cause faults if you get it wrong. It is worth learning once you and a regular partner have a clear reason — such as protecting a strong forehand or a one-sided player — and once your basic positioning is solid. Until then, focus on moving as a unit, getting to the line together, and covering the middle. Those habits win more points than any formation.